Cape Region students among five finalists in rain barrel painting contest

Winner to be voted on at Delaware State Fair

Jun 24, 2014

Source: SubmittedShown left, “Protecting the Past, Present and Future” by Emily Monigle and Amy Membreno of the fifth-grade Super Scientists, Rehoboth Beach Elementary School will be placed at the school's garden. Shown right, “Barrel of Abstract” by Devin Brown, Millsboro Middle School, will be placed at MMS.

The top five painted rain barrels from the youth rain barrel painting contest sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Department of Transportation have been chosen by public online voting, DNREC’s Watershed Assessment and Management Section announced June 16.

The five finalists’ barrels will be displayed at DNREC’s building during this year’s Delaware State Fair in July, where they will be voted on again by fair visitors for best painted rain barrel.

These five grand prize winners will also participate in DNREC’s annual awards ceremony on Governors Day, Thursday, July 24, at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington. The overall winner as voted on by fairgoers will be announced during the ceremony.

DNREC and DelDOT sponsored the contest to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality. The 19 participants were chosen based on their applications, design ideas and site placements. Individuals or groups chosen each received a fully assembled, primed 55-gallon plastic barrel, topcoat and bubble wrap; they supplied their own paint, brushes and other materials or tools. They then had five weeks to finish their artistry and submit final photographs and information, as well as a short biography of themselves.

As part of this program, each selected individual or group is required to find a public home for their finished rain barrel. Placement can be at a school, a nonprofit organization, church, municipal building, or other public location.